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Smart Shopper Smart Shopper-Archives Any Questions for a Car Dealer? 
16377 messages, Last post on Feb 11, 2006 at 4:59 AM
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I'll throw out a minor rant, and this isn't the only time it has happened to me. My '00 Celica had to go in for 2 recalls, neither of particular major merit, one for running lights being too bright, and the other for a master cylinder inspection. What finally made me set the appointment up was the car started throwing random Check Engine lights the past two weeks, which would stay on a day or two and go out. While I have a fair collection of tools, I don't have a reader that will pull codes from a Toyota ECU. I took it to the closest dealer, where I typically by all my self-installed maintenance parts from. Drop it off in the morning. Authorize the OBD2 diagnostic scan ($95-pay for the scanner in 4 plug-ins). Get a call from the Service Writer, who tells me, in this order: "Your car needs an oil change." (It has Mobil 1 in it, just put in 1500 miles ago). Me: Huh? Why? "Well, it is overfilled!" (This motor has a documented problem spinning rod bearings when driven enthusiastically - the easy insurance is to run it between a 1/4 and a 1/2 quart high - my car this morning was actually just over the line.) Me: Explains the above, along with what is in it. "Oh, you did that on purpose? "And, you car is burning oil." (one of the glitch/features I've had, and others too, with Mobil 1 in small high rpm motors is that using a quart every 1000-2000 miles is not unusual. This car has done it since it was switched over right after break-in. No repair was offered, unless I was getting led into an upsell for a $5k engine rebuild.) "Also, your spark plugs are worn out, and air filter and pcv valve need changing." (These are all possibilities, however they are the OEM iridium plugs, with a change interval of 100k, which usually means lifetime. The car has 95k on it. So, OK. The air filter got done about 18 months and 23,000 miles ago, and how this car breathes junk into the airbox, I'm sure it is time. As many PCV valves as I've checked/changed over the 25 years of doing my own maintenance, I've never had one where the ball check inside was stuck. But anyway...) "And your Mass Airflow Sensor is bad" (Don't necessarily doubt this either, but the dealer method is to R&R, where typically some appropriate application of automotive cleaner potion for electronic components will bring them back to life.) Maybe I'm being a little sensitive. Yes I authorized the diagnostic, but the pocket picking attempt was a little to blatant for my tastes. Especially since this condition status call was the third time an oil change was brought up since I set up the appointment. Also, I was already in their system as a regular parts customer. The bottom line is that I can do all the needed work, iridium unobtanium plugs and all, for about $250 tops at the parts counter and an hour of my time. To have them handle it would have approached $1k, assuming the MAF sensor retails for the $300-400 they usually do. I understand the need to turn a profit in a business, I need to do that myself in my employment, but there needs to be some adaptation to the type of customer being dealt with. I know I'm a little weird in that I do my own work by and large. I also realize the majority here are on the sales side of the stores, but is this an unreasonable expectation?
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Replying to: black_tulip (Jan 20, 2006 6:02 pm) Mentioning a specific person who went out of the way to assist you cant hurt either. And why not stop by if you have the chance and just drop off your manually filled out survey with the service mgr to let him know that you know how important the surveys are. Hey you might get some preferential treatment in return another time but it doesnt hurt to be nice and grease the wheels if you will. Money or tip is declasse' but cookies ?.. why not? The survey is critical though. |
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Jan 20, 2006 9:00 am) I always love this part of the discussion .l.o.l.. Remember, when it comes to taxes (right or wrong) you're *guilty* until you prove yourself innocent - and depending on the state, it is tax evasion ... Mathias probably has the best feel on this one. Terry.
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Replying to: racer63 (Jan 20, 2006 7:42 pm) Buddy, I feel your pain. I have a Yukon that I've owned since it was new, and I was getting a bit of exhaust rattle, either in the muffler or cat converter. No biggie, I figured the dealer could tell me which, and either fix the rattle or replace the offending part. Wrongo! They came back with a big, bend over and take it up the rear estimate to: "reconfigure the exhaust", replace both exhaust manifolds, trans flush, engine flush, complete tune-up, and a few other hare-brained things that I didn't ask for. The total was a whopping $2,400. All for a little exhaust rattle. The worst part, is having to pay a $125 diagnostic fee, when all I did was ask to have a friggin' rattle in my exhaust fixed! Needless to say, that service manger will never see my business again. Oh...and the fix was easy. Find an almost-new OEM muffler taken off a new Tahoe on Ebay for $29. With shipping and all, it came to about $90 total. Have the local indie mechanic shop install it for me, another $200...but he changed my oil, installed the muffler, rotated and balanced my tires, and did the power fuel injection cleaning for that price!
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Replying to: robr2 (Jan 20, 2006 5:37 pm) No, that isn't the only reason.... The dealer also takes car of all the paperwork, including state paperwork, license plates, registration, etc. There is a definite convenience in working through a dealer to do this. |
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Replying to: bcb1 (Jan 21, 2006 3:52 am) |
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I am looking to buy a 2006 oddysey. I have a dealer pushing an '05 with 11 miles at a good price. Another dealer is telling me this is a bad idea. That any dealer with a shipment of '05 at this point have to be refurbished cars or worse. Is this dealer trying to steer me away from the '05 because they cant compete with the price or is that legitimate statement?
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Replying to: 4boy1girl (Jan 21, 2006 7:24 am) Take the car for a good long test drive though maybe even overnight if they will let you to make sure the car isn't doggy. You don't find to many doggy hondas but every once in a while you will.
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Replying to: 4boy1girl (Jan 21, 2006 7:24 am) |
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Replying to: black_tulip (Jan 20, 2006 6:02 pm)
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